The proposal was modeled after a 15-cent fee approved last November by Chicago City Council. The new fee, added to the 52-cent fee that is already added to every ride-sharing trip, will fund public transit capital improvements.

But cities and counties in Ohio cannot impose fees for transportation services unless the transportation is being provided at a publicly-owned airport, according to a law adopted in 2015 and effective March 2016.

Following is the language from the law that affects the proposed fee:

"Except as authorized in division (A)(2) of this section, it is the intent of the general assembly to preempt any local ordinance, resolution, or other law adopted to license, register, tax, or otherwise regulate transportation network companies, transportation network company drivers, or transportation network company services."

In October 2016 Cleveland City Council adopted an ordinance that granted Cleveland Hopkins International Airport the authority to regulate Uber and Lyft as it does other ground transportation services permitted to use the airport.

Uber and Lyft are charged a $4 fee for every pickup and drop off completed at the airport, the same per-fare fee paid by taxicab companies.

County Council members have said they want to work with RTA to seek solutions to funding cuts that have led to reductions in the frequency of some routes and a proposed fare increase that would go into effect in August.

In January, County Council agreed to add "Public Transportation" to the standing Operations and Intergovernmental Review Committee in an effort to better monitor public transit.

The move came after the release of an advisory-committee study that concluded a sales tax or property tax might be required to keep RTA financially solvent.